Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

By now, most of the hype about vampires and wizards has died down. With the final Harry Potter film out and the last of the Twilight Saga coming soon to theaters, many readers are eager to look for a new story to fill their void.

In Heist Society, Ally Carter creates a suspenseful story that is sure to captivate many audiences. The story is about a young girl named Katarina Bishop. Katarina tries to leave the family business of stealing but ends up getting dragged back into it when her father is accused of stealing paintings from a very powerful man named Arturo Taccone.

Stories about thieves are making resurgence. TV shows like Leverage on TNT and Bait Car on Trutv all deal with the theme of stealing. However, many classic tales like Robin Hood and Aladdin deal with thieves as well. Stories about thieves are timeless, which is why their tales fascinates many readers.

Unlike the classic tales of Robin Hood or Aladdin, Katarina is not just another stereotypical thief with a heart of gold. Carter takes the character of Katarina to a new level. Not only is she a thief who the reader feels sympathetic towards, but a thief who has a family and a conflicted life.

What is intriguing about this fast-paced story is that the main character travels to many exotic locales. From the stylish streets of Paris, to the lush oasis of Las Vegas, Carter paints a vivid picture of places that many readers can only wish to see in a lifetime.

Carter does a splendid job of capturing the terminology of a high-end thief as well as creating dynamic characters. The main character in particular is the most complex. She is conflicted about joining a life of crime again in order to save her father. Katarina’s struggles and good demeanor help the reader have pity for her.

The novel is relatively short, so the book is an easy read for almost any age. Carter does not waste time going into heaps of detail and does not leave the reader sifting through literary devices to get to the point. The chapters usually consist of a few pages, which make it easy to digest for the reader.

The story takes the reader on a journey and leaves them eager to read more. Carter keeps the reader on its toes by creating the suspense on whether Katarina will meet the deadline to get the stolen paintings back. At the end of the novel, there are many plot twist and shocking moments that leave the reader in a whirlwind of intrigue. It is the perfect novel to read on a rainy day.

And if you enjoy this, Carter has also written a sequel, Uncommon Criminals. Other novels by Carter include her Gallagher Girls book series, which is about spies, but just as adventurous.